touch

touch [options] file...

touch updates file access and modification timestamps. If the file doesn't exist, touch creates an empty file (unless -c or -h is specified).Common uses include creating empty files, updating timestamps to trigger make rebuilds, and setting specific times for testing or archival purposes.Time can be specified in several formats: -t for precise timestamps, -d for human-readable strings ("yesterday", "2 hours ago"), or -r to copy times from another file.Without -a or -m, both access time (atime) and modification time (mtime) are updated. Change time (ctime) is always updated by the kernel when timestamps change.

-a

Change only access time

Change only modification time

Do not create file if it doesn't exist

Parse string and use instead of current time

Use times from reference file

Use timestamp [[CC]YY]MMDDhhmm[.ss] instead of current time

Affect symbolic link instead of referenced file

Change the specified time: access, atime, use are equivalent to -a; modify, mtime are equivalent to -m

Ignored; provided for compatibility with BSD versions of touch

Creating files requires write permission in the directory. Updating timestamps requires write permission on the file or ownership.Some filesystems mount with noatime or relatime, which affects how access times are recorded. This doesn't affect touch but may affect programs relying on atime.Touch cannot change ctime (inode change time); it's always set to current time by the kernel when metadata changes.

stat(1), date(1), ls(1), mkdir(1), chmod(1)